Moistener.



M. A. METZNBR.

MOISTENER.

APPLIOATION FILED 0012, 1907. RENEWED 00T.18, 1909.

Patented May 17, 1910.

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STATES PATENT ()FFIGE.

MAXWELL A. METZ'NER, 0F. PERTH AMBOY, NEW JERSEY.

MOISTENER.

Specification of Lettersl'atent.

Patented May 17, 1910.

Application filedOctoher 2, 1907, Serial No. 395,493. Renewed October 18, 1909. Serial No. 523,197.

To all whom it may concern;

Be. it known that I, MAxwnLL A. Mn'rznnn, a citizen o-f'the United States, and a resident of Perth Amboy, in the county of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Moistener, of which the followlng is a full, clear, and exact description This. invention relates to certain improvements in devices adapted for use in moistening stamps, sealing envelops, papers, or the like, and relates more particularly to the means employed for maintaining a surface of the device moist at all times. The device isso constructed that it may be inverted: without liability ofspilling the contents, and the liquid; within the moistener save that on the exposed surface 18 protected from evaporation The liquid is ployment of the device. The moistener may be so constructed as to facilitate its employment in sponging cloth or the like, the means for feedingv the liquid to the surface terminating adj acent the portion of the device. which is lowermost in the normal use thereof.

Reference is I ing drawings, forming a part of this specifihra 'm carries cation, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures, and in which- I Figure 1 is a transverse section through a moistener constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof showing portions broken away; Flg. 3 is a perspective view of the diaphragm and feeding means; and Fig. 4; is a section through a device adapted to be used in an inverted position.

Inmy improved moistener I employ a container 10 of any suitable material and of suitable form. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the container is formed of glass or ceramic material or metal, and has a large opening in the top thereof surrounded by a threaded neck 11. Extending across the opening there is provideda diaphragm 12 forming a Water-tight seal with the neck by means of an annular rubber washer 13. The dlaa small capillary tube 14: extending to a point adjacent the bottom of the container and openin through the top of the diaphragm flush with the upper surface thereof. Above the diaphragm and spaced a short distance therefrom is a sheet diaphragm and the gauze is preferably filled to be had the accompanyof foraminous material, as for instance, a

fine mesh wire gauze 15 forming the mom- 'tening surface. The diaphragm and the edges of the gauze are held in firm engagement with each other and against the rubber Washer 13 by means of an annular collar 16 threaded for engagement with the container '.neck, and having an inwardly-directed flange 17 engaging with the outer surface of the wire gauze at its periphery. The diasubstantially flat, while the gauze The thin space between the by athin pad 18 of porous material, the construction or structure of which will not be affected by the liquid within the container. This thin pad ispreferably of dried and 1 cured seaweed of a fibrous structure, aldelivered to: the surface only during the emthough it is evident that other materials effect produced by exposure on the shore,

may be employed'in. lace thereof, if dei'sired. The special ad irantage of the sea- VGBd lies in the factthat its long contact [with sea water and thebleaching and dryprevents the same from decomposing or in any way deteriorating, even though it is continuously exposed to the action of water in the moistener.

In the operation of this form of my device, the container is filled with water to any desired extent, and the cover, including the diaphragm, pad, and gauze, is secured in position. By applying a very slight pressure to the gauze, the flexible diaphragm is depressed and water rises through the tube to be absorbed by the pad and distributed to the gauze. The diaphragm is of such size and flexibility that the simple act of moving I the finger across the gauze depresses the diaphragm sufficiently to deliver a further supply of water to the pad and gauze.

If the device be left unusued for a considerable length of time, the liquid within the pad will, of course, evaporate, but none of the liquid within the container is exposed to evaporation save the almost innitely small portion within the tube. The device is rendered ready for use in a moments notice by gently depressing the gauze and diaphragm a few times.

The device is readily adapted for use in sponging cloth or applying a cleaning fluid to grease spots and the like. The diaphragm prevents the escape of any liquid from the device save through the tube 14:.

cleaning, the container 10 is preferablv formed of such a size that it may be readily grasped in the hand, as shown in Fig. 4, and the entire open end thereof or such portion asmay bedesired is provided with a closure involving my improved construction. When using the device inverted, the tube 14; is so bent as to terminate adjacent the diaphragm and deliver the liquid through the same to the pad. The unevenness in pressure as the device is moved over the surface of the cloth, causes a suflicient movement of the diaphragm to deliver the required supply ofliquid tothe pad.

Benzin or any cleaning fluid may be used within the deviceinstead of water.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a moistening device, a liquid container having a flexible diaphragm forming an air-tight joint therewith, a sheet of toraminons material having its peripheral p01- tions in engagement with peri heral portions of said diaphragm, means or securing said diaphragm and foraminous sheet to said container, a tube extending from adjacent the bottom of said container through said diaphragm, and an absorbent pad intermediate said sheet and said-container at their central portions.

2. A moistening device, comprising a container having an opening, a flexible diaphragm closing said opening and forming an air-tight joint therewith, a capillary tube carried by said diaphragm and extending to adjacent the bottom of the container, glpad of fibrous material in engagement Wi the outer surface of said diaphragm at the central portlon thereof, a wire gauze sheet in engagement w1th the outer surface of the pad and with the outer surface of the diaphragm at the peripheral portion thereof, and an annular collar having threaded engagement with said container and adapted to secure said diaphragm and Wire gauze in position.

3. In a moistening device, a liquid container having a flexible diaphragm forming an air-tight joint therewith, a sheet of woven wire gauze having its peripheral portions in engagement with the peripheral portions of said diaphragm, means for securing said diaphragmandwire gauze to said container, and a tube extending from adjacent the bottom of said container through said diaphragm. f t

4. In a moistening device, a liquid container having a flexible diaphragm forming an air-tight joint therewith, a sheet of foraminous material having its peripheral portions in engagement with the peripheral portions of said diaphragm, means for securing said diaphragm and foraminous sheet to said container, an absorbent pad intermediate said sheet and said container at their central portions, and means for delivering liquid through said diaphragm to said pad. y

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of tWo subscribing witnesses.

MAXWELL A. METZNER/ Witnesses:

ADOLPH METZNER, T. A. ATHERLEY. 

